The Rural Voice, 1998-11, Page 12The next British Columbia
election and certainly the next by-
election, could well be fought over
the issue of the Nisga'a Treaty.
This treaty is of importance to all
Canadians as it is the first in a string
of pending First Nation treaties and
these treaties have the potential to
become very costly and divisive for
Canadians.
The Nisga'a Treaty is a massive
deal involving about 5,500 Native
Indians and costs that could be as
high as $490 million.
There is no doubt that First Nation
Bands in BC have been badly treated
in the past. There is sympathy for
their plight, their past hardships in a
colonial nation and a growing
understanding for reconciliation
within the general public of BC.
What is happening now is that all
the old sores are being opened up as
the debate becomes political and
nasty. The provincial NDP signed the
Treaty and the Provincial Liberals are
Robert Mercer
You are paying for this
opposing it and even taking legal
action against it. (Yet the Federal
Liberals signed it.)
The process has taken years. This
particular land claim covers some
2,000 square
kilometres,
including the
mineral, forest
and fishing
rights in
Northwest BC.
Informed
discussion is
lacking as
political
statements sink
below the mire
of 15 -second
newsclips,
name calling,
innuendo, over
simplification
and massive advertising campaigns.
All the good that had gone into this
negotiated settlement is being cast
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8 THE RURAL VOICE
aside for political gain rather than
justice.
There have been no treaties signed
between First Nations and the
provincial government in BC since
the 14 granted by Governor James
Douglas between 1850 and 1854.
Then when BC joined federation in
1871, it did not recognize aboriginal
rights so this is a landmark treaty.
Possibly because this is the first
treaty to be initiated (but not yet
ratified by either the Nisga'a or the
two levels of Government), it is
precedent -setting in a future string of
50 or more settlements.
Much has been said about the
form of government that the Nisga'a
will be granted under the treaty. The
treaty does allow for the band some
control of education, health, business
and trade areas that are normally the
jurisdiction of other levels of
government. But the native bands in
BC claim that their social heritage is
based on the communal form of
living and government where the
band looks after itself.
Those opposed state that this
treaty will set up communistic
territories within a capitalistic
society, leading to established
apartheid lands ruled over by
hereditary elite band leaders.
Any lack of progress in the
settlement of native land claims in
BC will result in more uncertainty in
growth and investment in areas where
there is the potential for land claims.
There will be the potential for more
rather than less militant defiance of
government.
Politics in BC is not easy to
understand. The Liberals are moving
to the right to pick up where Reform
has quit the provincial scene. The
Conservatives are about as strong
provincially as they are federally.
Right now the NDP would be wiped
off the map if an election were called.
Native Indian treaties covering a
mere five per cent of the population
are not a real priority of those who
seem to seek to govern BC.O
Robert Mercer was editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter and a farm
commentator in Ontario for 25 years.